Economic and Social Justice Group
The Economic & Social Justice Group is responsible for cases that fall into several areas of practice including consumer, real estate, tax law and civil litigation.
Choose the Links tab to find out more about our services in these areas of law.
- Team Managers
- Links
Group Coordinator
| Name | Office |
| Tracey Whitley | Austin |
Team Managers
Click on a category to expand or collapse available links
Federal Agencies
- Consumer Product Safety Commission establishes product safety standards and enforces product safety laws. Site includes safety information and news of product recalls
- Report Unsafe Products forms for reporting an injury or filing a complaint about an unsafe product
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Filing a Complaint about Deceptive Home Improvement Contractors information for families in the Title 1 home improvement program
- Filing a Complaint about Manufactured Housing 1-800-927-2891 includes information about manufactured housing standards and regulations
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Aviation Consumer Protection Division provides information about the airline industry and airline passengers' rights concerning delayed and canceled flights, frequent flyer programs, travel scams, airline safety, disabled rights, baggage, and other topics. Takes informal complaints
- Air Travel Service Problems instructions and forms for filing complaints
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) enforces motor vehicle safety standards and educates the public about highway and motor vehicle safety
- Auto Safety Hotline 1-888-DASH-2-DOT provides auto safety and recall information and takes motor vehicle safety complaints
- Reporting a Vehicle Safety Problem provides instructions and forms
- Department of the Treasury
- Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) handles complaints against national banks and federally-licensed branches of foreign banks
- Consumer Assistance information about resolving disputes with national banks and filing formal complaints
- Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) regulates all federally-chartered savings banks and savings & loan associations, and many state-chartered ones too. Site includes useful information about credit laws
- Consumer Complaints and Inquiries instructions and forms for filing complaints against OTS-supervised savings institutions
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Common Carrier Bureau regulates telephone-related services
- Filing Complaints instructions and forms for filing complaints against broadcasters and telephone and cable service providers
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regulates state-chartered banks that aren' t part of the Federal Reserve System
- Consumers and Communities promotes compliance with fair lending laws and other consumer protection laws and regulations
- Questions and Complaints information about consumers' and banks' rights and responsibilities, and instructions and forms for filing complaints
- Federal Trade Commission enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws
- Consumer Complaint Form this form can be used to file complaints against particular companies or organizations
- Consumer Helpline 1-877-FTC-HELP allows you to report fraud or to receive consumer information on over 150 topics
- Consumer Protection directory of consumer protection publications available online
- Consumer Sentinel international, multi-agency database of consumer fraud-related complaints
- Privacy Initiatives educates consumers and businesses about privacy protections
- Federal Reserve regulates banking institutions and protects the credit rights of consumers
- How to File a Consumer Complaint About a Bank provides information and instructions for filing complaints against banks and other financial institutions
- National Credit Union Administration supervises and insures federal and state-chartered credit unions
- Fraud Hotline: 1-800-827-9650 for reporting suspicious or illegal activity by credit union employees, members, or officials in federally-insured credit unions
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) protects investors and maintains the integrity of the securities market. Site includes instructions and forms for filing complaints
State Agencies
- Office of the Attorney General
- Consumer Protection Division provides information about consumer rights and instructions for dealing with consumer problems
- Filing a Consumer Complaint provides instructions and forms for filing a complaint with the AG and information about other agencies that may be able to assist with the problem
- Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner regulates the credit industry. Site includes information and forms for filing consumer complaints against pawnshops, regulated lenders, or registered creditors. A consumer hotline is also available at 1-800-538-1579
- Department of Banking regulates state-chartered banks, state-chartered trust companies, foreign currencies exchangers, prepaid funeral contract sellers, perpetual care cemeteries, and certain other financial institutions
- Consumer Assitance and Complaints provides information on filing complaints against the institutions it supervises, and instructions for filing complaints against other types of financial institutions
- Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Manufactured Housing Division
- Consumer Protection: Complaint Forms includes forms for filing complaints concerning misleading advertising and problems with new and used homes. Forms are in Adobe Acrobat
- Department of Insurance
- Consumer Complaint Information provides information and forms for filing complaints concerning auto/homeowners' insurance, life/accident/health insurance, real estate title insurance, and HMOs
- Department of Transportation
- Driver's and Vehicle Information provides information about registration and titling and tips for consumers purchasing new and used vehicles
- Complaints against dealers includes information and forms for filing complaints against car dealers or dealerships. In Adobe Acrobat
- Texas Lemon Law Information provides consumer information, access to state used car laws and regulations, and forms for filing complaints
- Railroad Commission of Texas oversees state oil and gas industries and gas utilities
- Public Utility Commission protects utility customers and fosters competition within the utilities industry
- Electric Service includes regulatory information and tips for consumers
- Telephone Service includes regulatory information and tips for consumers
- Filing a Complaint, 1-888-782-8477 provides instructions and forms for filing complaints concerning electric service and telephone service
- Information about Texas Electric and Telephone Utility Assistance Programs
- Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending regulates state-chartered savings banks and savings & loan associations
- Consumer Information and Complaint Hotline 1-877-276-5550
Legal Resources
- National Consumer Law Center advocates for consumer rights and economic justice for low-income people. Site includes extensive publications and resources concerning low-income consumer issues
- Findlaw Class Action and Mass Torts CEnter database with information about many of the class action lawsuits filed and settled each year
- People' s Lawyer contains information about consumer rights in Texas, has listings of Texas Consumer Statutes.
Consumer Resources
- Consumer Reports Online free areas of the site provide product recall notices, shopping guides, and sample product reports
- Consumer Rights Litigation Conference 2004 (4.18mb)
- USA.gov resource for consumer information from the federal government
- Federal Citizen Information Center 1-800-688-9889 one-stop source for information about consumer problems and government services. Provides the full text of all government consumer publications and news of product recalls & consumer scams
- Consumer Action Website: Federal Citizen Information Center
- Filing a Consumer Complaint provides addresses, phone numbers, & online complaint forms for filing consumer complaints of all types
- Recalls news and information
- Scams and Frauds regularly updated reports of consumer abuse
- National Fraud Information Center provides news, information, and resources concerning consumer fraud
Consumer Advocacy
- Better Business Bureau provides company profiles, consumer tips, online complaint forms, information on dispute resolution, and a wide variety of consumer publications
- Consumer Tips features business guidelines, a directory of consumer resources, and a variety of buying guides and consumer publications
- BBB Online Complaint System helps consumers file complaints against companies and charities for problems including misleading advertising, improper sales practices, non-delivery of goods or services, misrepresentation, unhonored guarantees or warranties, unsatisfactory service, or credit or billing problems. Complaints are handled by the BBB office where the business is located
- Center for Media Literacy works to educate the public in using critical thinking where media is concerned
- Center for the Study of Responsive Law provides research and education to raise awareness of the needs of citizen-consumers
- Consumer World non-profit website site providing consumer news and tips and links to over 2000 consumer resources
- Consumers Union provides extensive consumer information, resources, and tips, and publishes Consumer Reports magazine
- National Association of Consumer Advocates association of attorneys and consumer advocates working to curb abusive and predatory business practices. Site includes a resource center with extensive consumer publications and tips
- National Consumers League advocates for the economic and social interests of consumers and workers
- Public Citizen consumer organization advocating for safer drugs and medical devices, cleaner and safer energy sources, a cleaner environment, fair trade, and a more open government. Site provides extensive consumer information and resources
- State Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Consumer Information provides news, information, and resources concerning a wide variety of consumer issues, including privacy rights and fair banking and lending practices
- Texas Watch Online bi-partisan organization taking a stand against wealthy special interest lobbyists. Includes a section on consumer law dedicated to preserving consumer protections for Texas families
Consumer Credit & Consumer Debt
- American Savings Education Council coalition of private and public institutions working to raise awareness about how to ensure long-term financial independence. Site includes useful financial planning worksheets and savings tools
- Consumer Credit Counseling Service of South Texas non-profit organization helping people to solve their financial problems. Site includes useful links to banking and financial planning resources
- Federal Reserve Board' s Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Laws an easy-to-understand guide to all aspects of consumer credit, with an emphasis on credit rights and how to use them. Includes information about filing credit complaints with federal enforcement agencies
- Identity Theft Resource Center non-profit center that assists victims of identify theft in clearing their names. Site provides extensive identity theft news and resources
- National Foundation for Consumer Credit, 1-800-388-2227 network of non-profit agencies providing assistance to people dealing with stressful financial situations. Site includes a directory of member agencies nationwide and resources for online counseling
- Myvesta.org non-profit organization providing free information and fee-based programs to help consumers out of debt
- Texas Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner provides information about credit issues and forms for filing consumer complaints against pawnshops, regulated lenders, or registered creditors. A consumer hotline is also available at 1-800-538-1579
Credit Bureaus for obtaining credit reports
- AnnualCreditReport.com Get your free annual credit report from the credit bureaus
- Equifax
- Experian
- Trans Union
Public Utilities
- The Utility Connection provides links to utility companies, organizations, regulatory agencies, and news available on the web
- Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC) non-profit organization offering price comparisons and tips to help consumers make informed decisions about long-distance phone service
- UCAN (The Utility Consumers Action Network) provides extensive news and information concerning public utility issues, as well as useful tips for decreasing household utility costs
Insurance
- Coalition Against Insurance Fraud association of consumers, government agencies, and insurers working to combat fraud. Site offers news, tips, and legislative and regulatory information
- Insurance Information Institute provides extensive, easy-to-understand information about insurance and how it works. Also provides a wide variety of insurance publications and resources
- Insure.com State Insurance Gateway provides access to state insurance news, laws, and regulatory agencies
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners assists state insurance regulators in protecting the public interest. Site offers news, consumer information, and links to other insurance resources.
- Insure.com provides insurance price quotes from over 300 companies
'Lemons' (Defective Cars)
- Better Business Bureau AUTOLINE provides summaries of state lemon laws and remedies
- CARFAX provides vehicle history reports including information about hidden problems or repairs
- Kelley Blue Book provides new and used car values and other resources for buying and selling cars
- Lemon Car Page provides general information about lemon car cases. Courtesy of the Law Office of T. Michael Flinn
- LemonLawAmerica.com provides access to state lemon law statutes and information about what to do if you have a lemon
- Texas DOT Lemon Law Information provides consumer information, a guide to state lemon laws, and forms for filing complaints
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